I'm allergic to seafood. Anyone else have weird allergies?

[RandomKoolzip]

Oh, and I'm allergic to latex, too. (Can't wear condoms!)

I'm the only person I know of who has a seafood allergy. Being a professional cook, I have to deal with it all the time and I do so delicately- i can TOUCH fish, etc., but I can't eat it and the smell, even if it's good, makes me want to retch.

What are your allergies?

[traco]

1. I am allergic to onions

[Canuckistanian]

60. Me too, mild allergy.

[traco]

72. My allergy is very severe

I have gone into anaphylactic shock over onions. It felt like a heart attack or stroke! Very scary!

[freetobegay]

2. Yes I seem to break out in hives

When I stand to close to a Republican.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. Dial soap!

Jesus it makes me itch and break out in hives.

[AlinPA]

8. Me too.

[CatWoman]

18. that's something else I forgot

a lot of people are allergic to heavily perfumed soap, and the type soap that tends to dry you out.

now i mostly use body shampoo. oil of olay is the best.

[TopesJunkie]

4. I suppose milk isn't weird, but at least it's not seafood -

I would be seriously bummed.

Sorry to hear that.

[TopesJunkie]

5. I suppose milk isn't weird, but at least it's not seafood -

I would be seriously bummed.

Sorry to hear that.

[Monte Carlo]

6. ALL seafood?

Fish, mollusks, crustaceans, everything? Living in New England, fresh seafood is a way of life.

[RandomKoolzip]

16. Yup....

Anything that comes out of the water is inedible for me. And I'm FROM Connecticut!

Must be a Pisces thing.

[put out]

25. Oh, that stinks!

My ma is severely allergic to bivalves: oysters, mussels, clams, etc. But she's fine with crustaceans and fish with scales.

I'm allergic to papaya and mango and some other melons, plus eggplant. I can eat them anyway, sometimes. I just know that my tongue and throat will be irritated, and my nose will run.

Penicillin is a big no-no for me.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

34. I'm a Pisces too and I couldn't live without my seafood!

especially at this time of year in New England!

[NC_Nurse]

7. Actually, seafood

is a fairly common allergy, sometimes indicative of an underlying iodine allergy.

I am allergic to Cipro, so if there's an anthrax attack I'm sunk.

[RandomKoolzip]

20. Hmmm.

I can eat iodized salt and not get sick. Hmmmm. Is it some sort of pure form of iodine in seafood that I'm allergic to, I wonder aloud?

[bleedingheart]

9. Stupid Republicans ...

I get all aggravated and I have to resist the urge to argue...

Seriously...I break out in hives if I drink Michelob...I also am allergic to sulfa based drugs.

[jus_the_facts]

10. My only allergic reactions are to insect bites...metal/plastic on my skin.

....but my Mom a year or so ago extremely suddenly developed an allergy to CRAB Meat while eatin' at a restaurant....had to be taken to the emergency room after eatin' a crab roll...she'd never been allergic prior to this incedent!

[RandomKoolzip]

23. I was never allergic to latex before either....

Then I started working in restaurants as a cook, and all of a sudden I had to go to the emergency room every week or so because my skin was bubbling up and oozing all over my arms and itching uncontrollably. After the sixth visit or so, the Dr. realized I was allergic to the damn gloves I wore at work and made me switch to vinyl gloves.


I STILL can't find usable non-latex condoms, though.

[jus_the_facts]

29. Are sheepskin condoms made outta latex?

....they're supposed to be THE BEST ever made...all the way around ...but they're reeeeally expensive!

[RandomKoolzip]

30. Sheepskin?

Seems a bit dated, doesn't it? Do I have to wait for the Renaissance Festival to blow into town before I can pick up a package, or what?


(I'm kidding....) I'll keep my eyes peeled for that.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

32. Stay away from the "sheepskin"...

..if you are trying to do anything except stop pregnancy -- they do squat for stopping STDs.


http://www.sex-project.com/condoms.shtml

3. Natural or Sheepskin. Despite their name, "natural" or "sheepskin" condoms are in fact made from animal intestines]. They are just as effective against pregnancy as polyurethane or latex, however they do not offer good protection against STDs. They cost two to three times as much as latex and are not as widely available. Oil and water based lubricants can be used with them. For couples merely seeking an alternative to latex and protection against pregnancy they are worth a mention.

[eyesroll]

52. Latex is an acquired allergy -- most people aren't born with it

They develop the allergy as they become more and more exposed to it. Medical, janitorial and food-service workers are disproportionately allergic to latex, because they deal more with it -- especially the powdery gloves.

Vinyl gloves are better in most cases, anyway -- even if the wearer personally isn't allergic to latex, many people are. A very small number of people are allergic to the mere presence of latex -- and if you used your latex gloves to prepare their sandwich or clean their telephone, they could end up with a severe reaction.

Well -- at least you didn't discover your allergy via condoms. That would have been a whole lot worse.

BTW: The female condom is made from polyurethane, but they're expensive, uncomfortable and squeaky. There may be some polyurethane male condoms available; perhaps Planned Parenthood would be a good resource?

[Red State Rebel]

53. I have the same problem with metal/plastic on my skin...

Even my good gold will turn my fingers black sometimes. From what I understand part of the problem is because I'm hyper acidic. I take Prilosec and it helps, but my acid is so bad I can't even wear perfume as it turns rank after about 10 minutes.

Can't pierce my ears or anything - bummer!

[jus_the_facts]

57. My ears are double peirced....my allergy was a post puberty onset.....

...can't wear anything at all in my ears now....but can wear a gold ring on my finger....yet nothin' on my wrists..neck or ears...and even the elastic on my underwear will cause me pain at times and anything that isn't all cotton is a NO NO. I've invested in some mens Jockeys...not very sexy but ya gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes!!

[bobja]

11. I'm allergic to the Grateful Dead

Something about that sound, even way off in the distance or subtly in the background, even if I am not paying any attention to it at all - I become irritable, antsy and start to get a headache. It's painful!

Other than that, no foods, plants or medications bother me at all.

[RandomKoolzip]

22. What did the Deadhead say when he ran out of acid?

"This band sucks."

That's an old one, but it still cracks me up.


And I can say that, because I actually am a big fan of the Dead (well over 200+ hours of live Dead on tape)......But I'd never force them on anyone else, and I only listen to the Dead on headphones. I think they're great, but at least I have the decency to be ashamed about it.

[AlinPA]

12. Red pepper, cayenne, paprika any thing with capascin (sp?)

[CatWoman]

13. I'm allergic to latex, too

and:

grass (several varieties)
trees (several varieties)
dust
dust mites
weeds (all varieties of ragweed)
mold
mildew
cats
cockroach

when I was tested, my back lit up like a christmas tree.

my allergist tells me that most people are allergic to cockroach. it's not the roach per se, but the dust and fumes that emit from dead ones.

P.S. he also said that seafood allergies are common. I know of a few other folks who are allergic to it.

[RandomKoolzip]

24. Huh. Well, it's good to know that I'm not some kinda freak.

And cockroaches are just friggin' gross no matter if they're dead or not.


I think I also might be allergic to reality TV. That would account for the constant vomiting whenever I watch network television....

[CatWoman]

26. put in some MST3K!!!!!!

[RandomKoolzip]

31. Exactly.

I have "Overdrawn at the Memory bank" cued up in my DVD player right now.....

[Cybergata]

37. Cockroaches do cause asthma....

which is an allergic reaction.

[CatWoman]

66. I remember when the doctor sat down with me to go over the results

and when I saw cockroach, I freaked.

LOL.

I'm like, "you shot me up with cockroach????!!! aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"!!!

took him a while to calm me down

[dolo amber]

14. I am allergic to practically every known antibiotic

I thought it was clever when the whole anthrax thing was going on, my Dr. decided to remind me of that fact..."Wow, that'd suck for you, eh?"




Hi RKZ!!

[RandomKoolzip]

21. Hey you!

Finally got my weekly "DU hour" to post.

I can't believe how long I used to be on DU before I moved to Chicago.....Now I get about an hour a week, between the wife (she won't let me near the computer if she's in the house!) and the job and the band and the chores. Can you believe that I haven't bought a new CD in like 2 months?

[lilymidnite]

15. Exercise

I swear. I can only swim laps for exercise. I have gone into anaphylaxis several times after bike rides, racketball games, or runs.

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. The sun.

If I am exposed to too much sun, my eyes with start itching and turn red. Once, my eye started feeling like somebody had punched me in it, the area was swollen and the white of the eyeball red.

Took myself off to the ophthamologist and was diagnosed with a condition called scleritis/episleritis. He gave me drops to use -- one for the initial allergic reaction and one for the resulting inflammation. Air pollution and smoke also can affect my eyes.

Also, when I am out in the sun, I must wear fairly dark sunglasses and a brimmed hat.

[Teddy_Salad]

19. I'm allergic to Watermelon

And it pisses me off because I loooove watermelon!!

But my mouth and throat swell up when I do. Not fun.

[Cybergata]

39. Me too!

All melons make me sick, and I love cantaloupe. Avacados....which of course I love, do the same thing.

[Teddy_Salad]

43. Same here! Avocados do it to me too.

Frustrating, huh?

[Lisa]

27. a friend is allergic to nickel ...

She can't wear steel jewellery without getting a rash. (Took her doctors a long time to figure out what was causing it ... they advised her not to get body piercings since a lot of the studs, rings, etc. are partly made of nickel, or contaminated by it.)

And my mom gets hives whenever she's out in cold weather (same effect as if she were "allergic" to the cold).

Me, I'm allergic to walnuts. Not a show-stopper, but my mouth gets very sore. I might also have an allergy to marijuana smoke (had sudden difficulty breathing back in the early 1980s when somebody was enjoying a joint in a movie theatre). I haven't attempted to test this any further, in case I do have a reaction and I can't get to the hospital in time.

p.s. the earlier posters who mentioned latex allergies -- I used to work at a medical clinic with someone who had the same problem (though in her case it might have been the powder coating on the gloves -- she was okay when using certain brands).

[Rabrrrrrr]

28. Pretty much anything that lives above water I'm allergic too

Pollen, plants, flowers, trees, grass (especially cut grass), dust mites, mold, spores, fungus (good thing I'm not Egon!), animal dander form all animals that have it, hair, animal hair, and on and on and on, and also perfume.

I can live with all that, though, because at least I don't have any food allergies. My allergies are just invonvenient; food allergies are often deadly. And I LOVE seafood!!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

33. Loads...

Just about everything green and growing
Heavy perfumes
Cigerette smoke
Cantaloupe (common if you are allergic to ragweed)
All citrus fruit
Strawberries
Red meat
Dairy
Cats
Egg whites
Nickle
Soaps/detergents with perfumes or dyes
Most make-up (which is ironic, being a make-up artist)

[Xithras]

35. I'm allergic to coffee

Not caffeine, just coffee. I can drink tea all day (and do), soda's, you name it, but one drink of coffee/espresso/latte and I'm doubled over in cramps or heading for the bathroom. Even certain coffee cake recipes made with real coffee extracts can hit me.

I really hate it too, because I love the smell and taste of coffee, but it'll likely be off limits the rest of my life

[jukes]

36. jukes

is allergic to cats, no shit.

cdnt bear the thought of parting w/them.

[onebigbadwulf]

38. New clothes.

Well actually the uber-starch they put on em, but that's not as funny.

I broke out in crazy hives in my secret place when I wore new boxers to bed.

[KT2000]

46. That uber starch is formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is used in most fabrics - not just what they call permanent press. Unless you are paying extra for textile items that don't have formaldehyde - you are getting it - sheets, towels, clothes including baby clothes.

Sorry about the hives.

[AlFrankenFan]

40. Concentrated lemon juice

The fake stuff they put in the bottles. I just discovered it too, I almost died at dinner a couple months ago. I was coughing cause my throat was closing up and I couldn't breathe and my parents are looking at me and saying, "Have your coughin' fit in the bathroom".

I have a slight allergy to popcorn as well. Also that fake sugar stuff they put in some candy...sorbotal or something like that, it made me really sick. I also have seasonal allergies. And all of these allergies have come within the past three years - I had been allergic to nothing before!

[Kadie]

41. Housework

whenever I clean the house I get this really worn out and tired feeling.

[Lizz612]

42. My mother is allergic to raw fruits and veggies

Lettuce and tomatoes are okay, cooked is fine, and very ripe (nearly rotten) fruit seems to be okay, but otherwise - anaphylactic shock. Whats more its gotten worse as she's gotten older, her hands get red when she tries to peel carrots now. I keep insisting that she needs an epipen around, but she refuses to get one.

[sherrem]

44. Me...

I have a chemical allergy which includes just about everything on this planet.

Deodorant, soaps, laundry detergents, carpeting, paint, cleaning solutions...

Had to go all natural for the most part...which is REALLY hard

Penicillan is also a no no.

[Solly Mack]

45. No allergies

well, that's not entirely true...I am allergic to republicans.

[dancing kali]

47. Peanut Butter,

Oranges, something in sourdough bread. . . pretty well everything to some degree except chocolate & wine.

I didn't find out that I had these allergies until I was an adult. . . I seriously thought that everyone's mouth got a burning sensation at the corners and itchy on the roof of the mouth when they ate oranges. I always loved the taste of oranges they just made my mouth feel funny. It's the same with peanut butter. Sigh - no Thai food for me. . .

Just to add insult to injury - my best friend is allergic to "Balsam of Peru" which is found in the skins and the white pith of oranges (and other citrus I think - I know orange is the worst for her). So, I peel the oranges for her and she eats them. Drives me crazy to smell a nice ripe orange and not be able to eat it. Oh well, she can't eat chocolate.

I'm allergic to commercial perfumes. Essential oils are ok if they are pure. . . I had a job as a perfume sniper at JC Pennys one holiday season & couldn't figure out why I was going home every night with a migraine. Why did I get that job? Well, my manager told me that it was because of my "fiery personality" as he stared at my cleavage. That was in the days of the dinosaurs when they were still able to get away with things like that and I was much less enlightened about my place in life. It wasn't until after I started noticing that I would feel ill every time I was around someone wearing a strong fragrance that I figured out what was going on.

I'm also very sensitive to household cleaning products - my skin reacts much faster to exposure than the average. I wear gloves for everything.

[neebob]

48. Newsprint, chemical fertilizers, and wood/weed fire smoke

I don't touch newspapers because they make my hands swell and itch, and I don't put fertilizer on my lawn. Just walking through the fertilizer aisle at the store makes me sneeze.

Fire smoke makes me feel quite noticeably ill on top of the sneezing.

Bananas and walnuts make my mouth itch - not enough to say I'm allergic, but enough to make me avoid them.

Oh, and I wouldn't call this a weird one, but I'm very allergic to fiberglass insulation. You couldn't pay me to touch the stuff. Just thinking about it gives me hives.

Otherwise, I have normal allergies - dust, pollen, other people's animals - probably mine, too, but I don't notice it anymore ... and catnip. I discovered that one in the fifth grade, making a leaf collection for school. I rubbed the nice fuzzy leaves on my face and had blisters all over it the next day.

On edit: Oh, man, I totally forgot about chlorine. Keeps me out of swimming pools, and if there's a lot I can't even stand to be around the pool because it makes my eyes water.

[BlondieK143]

49. Mosquitos.

If I get too many bites, I swell up pretty bad. Had to be taken to the ER for one such account.

[Magrittes Pipe]

50. I ain't allergic to shit.

Actually, I imagine I've got some mild pollen allergies (get a little sniffly those times of year), but nothin' worth writing home over.

Sure is a good thing, too.

[TX-RAT]

51. Anti-venom

Guess what you have to do to find that one out.

[eyesroll]

54. No true food allergies

I'm probably mildly lactose intolerant, but that's about it. Hot dogs have given me some digestive difficulty, so I avoid them. I don't know if it's actually the hot dogs, or just other coincidentally timed factors, but I'm not too into hot dogs anyway.

I do get hay-fever-type stuff in the spring, but that's never been diagnosed properly.

[scarlet_owl]

55. Tomato plants and latex.

I can eat tomatoes, I just can't touch the plants.

[MissMillie]

56. Allergic to mussels

which is strange because I have no problem at all with clams.

[sendero]

58. Garlic...

... and it is a pain in the ass at times.

[skypilot]

59. I used to be allergic to...

...spinach and peppermint. That was when I was a child. Eating either of those things would actually make my mouth bleed. It's an allergy that I, fortunately, outgrew. I like spinach and peppermint. Not together, mind you.

[mrboba1]

61. No nut allergies yet?

Well, I'll start that one then. I have 'true nut' allergies - anything from trees (pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, etc.).
I am not allergic to peanuts at all, though...

[Canuckistanian]

62. Neosporin

It was a mystery for years.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

63. I'm allergic to Diapercity

Though I'm the mayor!

[Marnieworld]

64. Tree Nuts

I can have peanuts but not almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistacios, pine nuts, hazelnuts etc.

I don't really like nuts so it's not a loss but nuts are in a lot of weird things like salads and pie crusts so you have to be really careful because a reaction really sucks.

[johnnie]

65. I sneeze

When I eat chocolate, but I eat it anyway. Peppermint makes me sneeze and so does the sun, especially when I am drinking warm Pepsi.

[skypilot]

67. My God...

...you're just a mess, aren't you?

[johnnie]

68. Well, just mild sneezes

Here at work, when someone hears me sneeze..they yell "Chocolate!"
This thread was about "weird" allergies...I always thought mine were a little strange.

[skypilot]

70. When you sneeze...

...I think people yelling "Warm Pepsi!" would be pretty funny too.

[Misunderestimator]

69. Provolone Cheese, and anything Orange like Cheese Nips

Have always had a problem with Cheetos, Cheese Nips, even Orange Sorbet... terrible stomach pain if I eat more than just a tiny bit.

Provolone cheese only recently became an issue... the last couple of times I've had it, my throat closes up, gets inflamed and raw and my entire body breaks out in a sweat.

(On edit... it's ONLY provolone cheese, I can and do eat almost any other kind of cheese with no effect.)

[ChoralScholar]

71. Aspartame

Yep... I'm allergic to NutraSweet. I break out in hives if I have a Diet Coke or many other 'diet' foods.